Brain cyst - info required

[hayleya135]

Hi,
For around 2 years now I ahve been suffering from balance problems and dizziness - my doctor put it down to anxiety as I was suffering from panic attacks due to my dizziness.  I really felt quite strongly that it wasnt anxiety and have insisted that they look at other causes.
I was refered to a nuerologist for a mri scan and have just had the results. They said I have a insignificant cyst on the right side of my brain - but its nothing to worry about!!!!  Its insignificant but she couldnt rule out the link that it could be connected to my symptoms all she said was come back in a year and we will do another scan.
Obviously im pretty scared as im not sure what this means, a year seems a long time to wait for another scan, and could it be causing my symptoms of dizziness and balance walking? What will happen if it keeps on growing?

[Abhijeet Deshmukh, MD]

Hello.

Firstly, if the cyst in your brain starts growing at a significant rate, you will experience some or the other symptoms which were not there earlier. And in case your current symptoms are related to the cyst (I will need to know the exact location.....'right side' is pretty vague), they will increase.

A cyst (or any growth) which is not central in location, will have to be significantly large to produce imbalance.

I would suggest you mention here what the MRI report says. As of now, your description of symptoms does not suggest any relation with the cyst.

Regards

[sonu78]

Hi,
Although cysts tend to be benign growths, they are sometimes found in parts of the brain that control vital functions, or they may be found inside malignant tumors.
The symptoms associated with a cyst in the brain depend on where the cyst is located.
CT and MRI scans are used to diagnose brain cysts.
The most common cysts found in the brain are arachnoid, colloid,dermoid, epidermoid, and pineal cysts.

Assuming it to be Arachnoid cyst, it can be managed by “watchful waiting,” or surgery.
If the cyst is small and is not causing problems, you may be suggested for “watching” the cyst for a while to see if it grows.If the cyst is causing symptoms or is located in a part of the brain where continued growth would cause a problem, you may be suggest surgery to remove the cyst.